Summary

Description

A small starfish (up to 5 cm) with 5 (rarely 4 or 6) very short, broad-based arms. Upper surface covered with groups of short stiff spines. Colour variable but usually brown, green or orange; mottled individuals are present in some populations. The predominant colour pattern varies from area to area and with habitat, specimens from lower shore situations generally being paler in colour.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Common on all British coasts but sparse in the north-east and not recorded from Lincolnshire around to Hampshire

Global distribution

Found in the Mediterranean, Azores and Canary Isles

Habitat

Found under boulders and stones on the lower shore on sheltered and semi-exposed rocky coasts and also in rockpools. Extends into the sublittoral to depths of about 100 m.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

Sub-pentagonal; ventral surface flat but dorsal surface rounded.

Mouth plates each bear two spines on the ventral side.

Additional information

Asterina gibbosa is a protandrous hermaphrodite: small or young individuals are males but as they become older and increase in size they develop into females. Asterina gibbosa may be distinguished from the morphologically similar Asterina phylactica which has a consistent colour pattern with a brown central star typically overlying the general background colour. There are rarely spines on the mouth plates of Asterina phylactica.

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